A Message from Friends in CRA

American Cigarians are fighting to keep FDA away from their humidors and needs your help.

The cigar industry needs your help NOW more than ever before! By making your voice heard you are helping to fight for your personal rights to enjoy premium cigars! By following the instructions below you can easily use our template or write your own comments and send them to the FDA through the regulations.gov website.

We have a sample comment below that clearly outlines the unjust declaration of the $10 price point on premium cigars, which is a very important issue that needs to be addressed.

There is also a guide with many other topics that you can address with examples below these instructions:

STEP ONE:

Either Copy (Ctrl-C or Command-C on your keyboard) the Comments below or as laid out above write your own comment: Copy this text:

As an adult who enjoys premium cigars I support FDA’s proposal that premium cigars be exempted from FDA regulation. I agree with much of FDA’s proposed definition of premium cigars. However, FDA should not include a $10 minimum price requirement. In my opinion, FDA has no role in setting prices for products it regulates. In addition, a $10 dividing line is arbitrary in defining the high-quality cigars that I enjoy. Price does not dictate whether or not a cigar is in fact premium. Premium cigars come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and prices. A $10 minimum price could result in many of the premium cigars I enjoy no longer being available, or being sold at an increased price. It would restrict my product choice while not addressing FDA’s public health goals. Therefore, I strongly believe that FDA should remove the $10 minimum price requirement from the definition of a premium cigar. Thank you for your time and consideration.

We want to be able to provide the service and products to our loyal customers that we have been for fifteen plus years. Atlantic Cigar wants to continue to offer the selection and pricing that you’ve come to know from us. The laws that the FDA are proposing could direcly effect our ability to remain the company that we love to be.

With your help and a little bit of effort, you can help us fight for your personal rights to enjoy these products as adults. Thank you for your time and your efforts.

As a premium cigar consumer, I urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to exempt premium cigars from the proposed deeming regulations issued on April 24, 2014.

The new proposed regulations will infringe on my rights as a cigar consumer: the freedom to enjoy a variety of premium cigars; The freedom to patronize small businesses across America who will now find their livelihood at risk; The freedom to assemble with fellow cigar enthusiasts because of intrusive government intervention into an adult pursuit.

These devastating new restrictions on premium cigars and the businesses that manufacture and sell premium cigars, must recognize that premium cigars, are not what Congress intended with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I urge the FDA to consider the following:

Message Themes:

As a consumer, special editions and seasonal blends are a unique experience. If premium cigar manufacturers are subjected to pre-market reviews it will result in the elimination of new products, and consumers will have fewer options to choose from when looking to purchase limited edition premium cigars.

Consumers from all demographics and walks of life enjoy premium cigars. Using price would place an unfair discriminatory economic burden on those adults who enjoy premium cigars by setting some arbitrary benchmark for what is “premium.”

Premium cigars are an adult product, enjoyed in a celebratory manner, with industry surveys substantiating that the average cigar consumer enjoys two to five cigars per week.

Premium cigars are not marketed to, nor appealing, to minors.

Premium cigar retailers are already engaged in strict age verification when it comes to purchasing premium cigars and all other forms of tobacco.

Premium cigar retailers are predominantly small family businesses that create hundreds of community-based jobs. The proposed regulations would jeopardize these jobs, and threaten the contribution of these jobs in neighborhoods across America.

Consumer taste preferences are unique and different. A ban on sampling would prohibit consumers from being able to try new products before they make such a significant purchase.

Premium cigars are an artisan product made by skilled craftsmen carrying a rich historical and cultural significance. The proposed regulations would threaten this rich tradition.

Premium cigars deserve an exemption from federal regulation.

Closing:

I enjoy going to my local cigar shop and shops like it across the country. You meet with friends, and you make new friends. Cigars bring together people from all walks of life, in a manner like no other social activity. It’s like the hardware store or barber shop in days past.

People like being together, and premium cigars are also an important part of the moments of solitude that we all need in life.

The federal government should not be interfering with that type of camaraderie, fellowship, and personal pursuit.